Companion site to Creating Digital History (NYU GA HIST.2033)

The Eucleian Society at New York University

1832, the year of New York University’s founding, also marked the establishment of two campus literary societies. There was the Philomathean Society and the Adelphic, which quickly renamed itself the Eucleian Society in 1833. The sixteen original students of this organization chose the name in honor of Eukleia, the Goddess of Repute, Glory, and War.

The Eucleian Society gathered every Friday evening on the 4th floor of the University Building at 100 Washington Square. It was an organization for students to improve their minds and wellroundedness in a way the University curriculum did not teach. The literary society was founded to help students achieve the Victorian ideal attributes of character and manliness. They trained themselves to read, think, and speak about current events both domestic and international. This came in the form of orations, debates, and poetry/prose readings. Debate was the most popular activity because as historian Louise Stevenson explains, “Oratory gave students not only knowledge of persuasion but also a sense of their future social and political role. They thought oratory linked their learning to public life” (164). During their one-hour weekly meetings, members would open with readings of essays and poems then listen to debates between other members who were assigned topics. The debates were often secular and linked to current issues, with discussions of such issues as the freedom of the penny press, immigration, and wealth. History was also a popular topic as it was not yet a standardized profession and therefore not discussed in university courses.

The second important function of the Eucleian Society was their library. Members were expected to present to the library one, if not more, volumes. In most universities restrictions on library books were extremely strict so often literary society collections were much more comprehensive and accessible than the universities’. At NYU students did not have a useful library and their only other option was to pay $5 to join the Mercantile Library by Astor Place containing over 25,000 volumes. Therefore, access to books was a prime motivator in joining the Eucleian Society. Membership was either active or honorary. Honorary membership was given to prominent figures not only to boost the society’s reputation but because even honorary members were expected to donate books and finances. Very detailed library catalogs were produced highlighting the society’s collection of biographies, histories, voyages, and novels. Their library grew even larger as a result of the intense rivalry with the Philomathean Society. Each wanted to have a bigger library than the other, which was useful in providing more books for its members, but also created a duplication of books in their libraries.

Since membership in both the Eucleain and Philomathean organizations was forbidden, there was constant competition for members. In the early years students were sometimes discovered to belong to both societies for which they were punished. Officers were highly coveted positions and they enforced the society laws strictly. Tardiness and disruptions during the weekly meetings were not tolerated and the Censor would impose fines for such offenses. The competition between the two societies lead to many joint debates. The debates between societies became even more intense in 1875 with the Intercollegiate Literary Association. It created the opportunity for debates between NYU, Cornell, Rutgers, Williams, Princeton, and Lafayette. On January 7, 1875 the first competition was held at the Fourteenth Street Academy of Music, at which, NYU performed well.

However with the advent of an Intercollegiate Literary Association came the advent of intercollegiate sports. Originally the Eucleian and Philomathean Societies were the only extracurricular activities, enjoying a full monopoly on the students’ time. Yet in the post-Civil War period sports and other clubs became popular and membership declined. Additionally there was a change in the university’s library and curriculum mentality. In 1876 the American Library Association formed and the United States Bureau of Education conducted a survey entitled “Public Libraries in the United States”. It not only included public libraries but those of colleges and literary societies. This both drew attention to the Eucleian’s library and marked the beginning of a movement for the improvement of libraries nationwide. Curriculum changes made public speaking a more integrated part of university curriculum and the development of “majors” turned the focus towards profession-based learning.

However, the Eucleian Society hung on past the Philomathean’s demise in 1888 by turning their focus away from oratory towards the written word. In the 20th century the Eucleian Society sporadically published their own magazines including the Knickerbocker from 1900-1901, and two humor magazines entitled The Medley and The Geyser from 1913-1916. It seems the society survived on interest from an 1877 donation of $2,500 by A. Ogden Butler. However, the decline of the society was complete by 1942, the last time it is mentioned in the Palisades Handbook.

Bibliography:

Thomas Frusciano, New York University and the City, (New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1997).

Like this:

Related

9 Responses

Great post, Megan! It’s always interesting to read about the histories of these types of “secret societies.” Have you read anything about what the process for passing down or extending active membership in the Eucleian Society was like in its early years?

Thanks! After 1942 when the society was no longer listed in yearbooks and handbooks as an official NYU club it actually continued in extreme secrecy. Through talking about this project to everyone I know I finally was able to find someone who is a current member of the society. They informed me that once you are a member, you are a member for life which I believe was also true during its early years. Honorary members refer not so much to former NYU students but powerful members of the community who never attended NYU as a student and therefore were unable to gain membership in that way. Honorary members were also appointed for life but at some point in the 20th century when secrecy was stepped up, the society stopped appointing honorary members.

It would be interesting to know who the original members of the society were and whether those societies managed to spread and establish chapters on other campuses. Clubs like this were fairly popular and perhaps the founders created The Eucleian Society in imitation to a society already in existence? What were the requirements for a student who wanted to join? Did they have to have a certain academic standing or was it open to all? Was there a hazing process involved?

I think it is interesting how The Eucleian Society was so selective and demanded a donation of literature for their own collection. I also found it interesting how the society waned after the creation of the NY Public Library.

On an interesting note the idea of a public library comes from Benjamin Franklin. He was a huge proponent of public education and public access to information because he was not of the same upper, privileged class like the other founders of the US. He was an apprentice for a Printer, who was I believe his brother in law or brother. It was through this access to print that he started writing the Do Good Papers. It was also here that Franklin gained access to more materials to eventually leave his apprenticeship and venture to become on of the greatest figures in American History.

I just thought that was an interesting juxtaposition to The Eucleian Society because they were so selective with who they allowed in and the information they shared. It seemed to be everything that Franklin would be against. It is also just interesting because it formed so quickly after America became a nation, so I wonder what Franklin would have considered if he was privy to this society.

I would also love to know what works actually belonged to their collections too and what happened to them after they dissolved.

The Eucleian Society was unique to NYU-it did not have other chapters on other campuses like a fraternity. Despite not being named or formed as a sister society for another literary society, you are correct that there were many other literary societies in American universities at the time, all of which had similar models. Some of the earliest began in the 18th century at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton but the trend soon spread to many prominent institutions. As of yet I have been unable to find much specific information about the induction process but pre-1942 (the period I am focusing on) selectivity was not as extreme as it is now. In fact, in the early decades literary societies were the only club options so almost every student was a member of one of the two societies. And thanks for the information about Benjamin Franklin! That is a fascinating context in which to think about the Eucleian Society.

I am researching Name: William Robert Gordon Birth – Death: 1811-1897, according to Universities and their Sons, was the founder of the Eucleian Literary So-
ciety. He was graduated in 1834 with the degree
of Bachelor of Arts, and received that of Master of
Arts in 1837. From 1834 to 1837 he was a student
in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch
Church, at New Brunswick, New Jersey, and from
1837 to 1880 was a minister of that church, with
pastoral charges successively in Manhasset, New
York, Flushing, New York, New York City, and
Schraalenberg, New Jersey. He received the de-
gree of S.T.D. from Columbia College in 1854. His parents were Robert Gordon , of Ireland and Elizabeth Postley. He was married to Matilda Onderdonck of Manhassett, no issue. We have several researches who believe that he had a brother ,John Gordon, b. 1817 married to Sarah Bogert, (Wahkill Valley, NY). but we have no proof. We are hoping to find a biography that might mention siblings. We have been unable to find a birth record, or marriage certificate to make this connection. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Carolyn Gordon

Hi Carolyn, Thanks for posting! Have you tried the New York University Archives for any more biographical materials? http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/arch/ I will check with the student who did the research on the Eucleian Society to see if she has any ideas for other resources. h